The original Astonishing X-Men was a four-issue series that replaced Uncanny X-Men during the 1995 alternate universe storyline Age of Apocalypse, in which all X-Titles were given new names and issue numbers. In this storyline, Professor X is murdered 20 years in the past by his own son, Legion. Magneto, witnessing his friend's death, commits himself to Xavier's dream and creates his own team of X-Men. However, he can not stop the rise of the despotic Apocalypse.